School's 'Wet Play' Policy Lets Kids Play In The Pouring Rain

By: Alexander Burns | June 20, 2019

Parents of students at Ipswich’s Piper’s Vale Primary Academy have slammed the school after it began a new ‘wet play’ policy. According to the Metro, the new policy is designed to “toughen up kids” and shake up the ‘ingrained laziness and entitlement’ of the so-called ‘snowflake generation’.

However, local parents and teachers are already criticizing the Piper Vale administration, accusing school officials of being the ones that aren’t in touch with the real world.

A parent of several children at the school, Annemarie Fletcher, spoke to the media about the new policy, telling local news outlets that her children are now being forced to play in the pouring rain during lunch time and sport sessions.

“It’s disgusting – they were made to stay outside in the pouring rain,” she told the Metro. “I wouldn’t have put my dog out there. They were wet and cold all afternoon – absolutely drenched.”

After telling students to leave their classrooms, school administrators forced teachers to lock the doors and ignore any pleas to come inside. “Apparently they locked the doors so pupils couldn’t get in,” emphasized another furious student mother, Ms. Frances Horlock. “That’s why I’m mad. They should be allowed to decide themselves.”

Because of these practices, the ridiculous policy is already leaving children unnecessarily drenched on a weekly basis, with Ms. Fletcher saying: “For my youngest daughter, we had to put her shoes on the radiator all night to get them dry…My house was like a sauna, and that’ll put up heating bills.”

Unsurprisingly, many parents and members of the local community believe that the new policy is inane and misguided. “It should be like a pre-school and have free-flow,” says Ms. Fletcher. In fact, like most parents, Ms. Fletcher doesn’t understand why the school changed their rainy weather policy.

“It was great before, they would play board games or watch DVDs,” she recalls. “Now they say it comes down to whoever is in charge that day. But opinions will be different."

Despite the public outcry, there doesn’t seem to be very good chances of Piper's Vale changing their controversial policy anytime soon. In a recent statement, the Primary Academy addressed the divisive issue, with acting principal, Ben Carter, telling parents:

“Firstly, can I apologize for the fact that the change in policy was not communicated to you before. Previously in wet weather the school supervised play inside the school building in almost all adverse weather conditions. Paradigm [the Piper Valley school trust] believes that ‘wet play’ is good for pupils and we will encourage it except in very bad weather. "

Carter continues: "The decision for a ‘wet play’ will be made by the leadership team member operationally in charge of the school on the day…During the following winter months please ensure your child comes to school with suitable footwear and a winter coat or jacket.”

Although there are small sheltered areas around the school, parents are still dismayed by the new policy. At this stage, it doesn’t look like Principal Carson’s statement has helped placate the angry community.